Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1887-09-01

The addre~s Of Capt. Mills. Of the New
Northwest, before the meeting of the Mon.
tana Press AssOcia tion at Helena last
week, was of q very high order. 1t 10 %
good in every part that we are pussled in
making an extract. and regret that we have
only room for the closing portion Of his
able effort
Very much that man il IL determined
by his associations. Every youth ID
brought more or lees closely in contact
with diverse elements Of the world. With
one or the other he naturally and inevita-
bly becomes identified. and by associa tion
as years advance he aSsimilates more and
more to that particular element until the
man is made and his character and status
fixed Tor lie. His aspirations. tastes. dc.
sires and limitations srr meted and
bounded by this second nature. which,
with its habits il stronger than the old,
and in it's environments he moves onward
to the end. No avocatior presents more
opportunities. ar more cOercive influences
than ours. We are brought in contact
with every element Of society and business
that make up the community Of our
readers. This in especially 80. as in Mon.
tana, where n newspaper 10 the writing oi
one or two men. The editor 10 brought
personally into associatio with very many
| Of his readers. and his personality 10 n
consideration kept in view BY nearly all.
lie touches all elements. aud has more
than ordinary opportunity tn know what
~ sterling and what in pretense; that which
10 pure and that which is base. II 10 for
him to determine early the approval Oi
which he will seek. and with IL affiliate. He
Ii in the nature OF a public correspondent,
and to the consciousness Of those with
whom he is In sympat thy will, his writings.
unconsciOusly perhaps. he addressed. II is
well, then. that he should write to the best
elements he reaches. There may be no
counter cOmmu licatiOn perhaps not even
y casual word of she.r or app, oval to sus.
tain him. Tie most d .sirn ble friends are
not ulways those unuvt quickly Responsive
or most en- silly made. He must be self re-
liant. COZ sriOus untiring and steadfast.
There will be clouds aud contentious, hurd
battles, IL may be-, when assaults may be
heavy, when he may think he IL
misunderstood, his labors use 'css,
end that he will go down with his
colors, 'unwept, unhomoresl and unsuns."
but he will not. No editor ever advocated
the right as he saw the right, fairly, stead.
lastly and vaIiantiy, with plre motives
and honest purpose, but that II esta bIished
Tor him character aud reputation, made n
better man Of him, encouraged kindred
workers and young hearts in like purpose
and brought him finally into the associs.-
tiOn, sympathy and confidence Of those
whose appreciation was best worth striv-
ing for and most highly to be valued. He
should write always Tor his hest readers
and be worthy Of thei' confidence. lie may
not have genius or great ability, his field
may be limited. his life toll, but he will
nv s}nna hia Asatv nd AflsAl ftnss
Oi an honest, manly man.
Not even this, however. will make the
perfect newspa per. ] will not delay to spec
ulate upon the deta ails III thai impOssibility. y.
should the editor pOsnrss the xrandest in
tellect Of the age. the virtues of all the
"sints, the lee r"'"s III :n mnsnvs ~ni 'nW
ratOr'es, the graces o' All poesy ana the
dsctiOn oil All the masters; sho"'u ne nave
exact know'e'ise M rignt an" wrong WIN
all known appliances ana "c,ities "' the
age at MS cominano' anu w aoie 10 convey
his Thoughts instantaneonH'y ny skilled
typ"graphers ana mecnanir'' 10 'au't'ess
paper ~ most acceptab'e ior"a--not even
then WIZ the perfect newspaper bc pro-
ducc'i. JOURNALISM u progressive science.
1t IL ever util' Sing, as il ever aids the mag
nificcht achievements Ot art. science and
literature in their onward majestic strisies.
and first class newspaper Of to-day is in
itself a perfection immeasureaily surlDtss-
ing the highest conception Ot the most ex-
acting ilealist who saw this century dawn.
Ever meeting the requirements Of its day,
ever abreast Of Or leading the advance in
the highest development al civilization will
the better newspaper be; but who, in wit
ness Of the past, will have the temerity tO
write its possibilities and set the boun-
tiaries which shall define them, even when
the waning century ends?
have pride in my vocation. in the press
Of Montana and in this Association, which
has brought us into fellowship. fra tcrnity
and a closer communication, aud has
created and strengthened friendships that
survive unshaken the disc orsianc. of puli-
ties local estra nsein ut =, business rivalrieS,
a Nd even the pet ulssnce of youth and the
acerbity Of age. I need not rccite to you
the potencies of that mighty engery the
Press To control one of the least intiu-
entail of newspapers is "a grave responsi-
bllity. aud fell as deeply mine in address
in. these closing words of counsel to those
who control the press - this I,.erlrss ter
ritory aud are guiding her dcstinics to
higher ri ilization and to speedy statehood. !
We are of the advance guard in the great
final 81 ruggle where two civilizations from
east and west have planted their 1T nLards |